Transmigrated Into the Stand-In of the Tragic Novel’s Heroine - Chapter 5

Xie Qingtang didn’t know why Chang Yishao would be interested in this game.

But as a qualified “girlfriend,” such a small request was naturally something she could fulfill.

After Chang Yishao finished downloading the game, the two sat on the sofa and began to battle. Their team was under-powered and was wiped out a few times initially, giving the opposing side a slight edge. The opponents then started typing “mocking” messages. Seeing this, Xie Qingtang was equally ruthless and went “full throttle,” typing phrases like “Little brother, why are you playing games? Go home and drink your milk” on the map every time she killed an opponent. As for teaching Chang Yishao—that was clearly forgotten by Xie Qingtang. Chang Yishao didn’t mind and played a few rounds with Xie Qingtang, slowly transforming from a “feeder” to a “kill-stealer.” Of course, this was only in the low-ranked games.

Although gaming is a good form of relaxation and entertainment, adding streaming to the mix was actually excessive.

Xie Qingtang put away her phone, initially thinking Chang Yishao would start reading as before. To her surprise, Chang Yishao immersed herself in the “slaughter” again. It was only after a round finished that she slowly asked, “Why are you interested in this?” After all, this person didn’t look like someone who enjoyed games.

Chang Yishao pushed up her glasses and smiled. She said, “It’s because of a few students in my class.” She taught history to tenth graders, a subject that was in an awkward position, especially after electives were introduced. What were those students thinking? They figured they could just choose not to study it, so what if they didn’t listen in class? Throughout the lesson, countless students were distracted, and she even caught a few playing games.

Xie Qingtang’s mind worked quickly. Hearing Chang Yishao say this, she was able to fill in the blanks. She figured that since the students in her class wouldn’t listen to advice, Chang Yishao wanted to understand the game herself before addressing the issue directly. She looked at Chang Yishao with a look of understanding and clicked her tongue, saying, “You’re really dedicated.” A moment later, she leaned closer to Chang Yishao and whispered, “Why did you choose this profession?” The Chang family was wealthy and powerful. She thought the eldest daughter of the Chang family should either go into business, politics, or at the very least, research, not deal with a bunch of half-grown students in a school. However, as soon as the words left her mouth, she regretted it a bit. What was the point of asking Chang Yishao? This was clearly a question for the author!

Chang Yishao indeed did not answer. She merely looked at Xie Qingtang with her calm eyes, containing a hint of subtle scrutiny, as if she was looking at someone else through her. Xie Qingtang didn’t mind this at all. It would be strangely unsettling if Chang Yishao looked at her with that kind of gaze.

As Chang Yishao’s “girlfriend,” Xie Qingtang thought she would have to deal with all sorts of “social obligations,” but in reality, such situations were rare.

She was like a canary, well-fed and taken care of by Chang Yishao for a month.

Until one day in April.

The persistent rain dampened the glass window, casting a hazy and mesmerizing veil over the world.

Xie Qingtang looked out the window, her features cool and distant, like a flower that would not fade in the rain.

Chang Yishao had a high school reunion, which Xie Qingtang had heard about a few days ago. She initially thought it had nothing to do with her, but Chang Yishao planned to bring her along.

Was this a gathering of couples years later? Xie Qingtang felt a bit strange about it.

“It’s time to leave,” Chang Yishao said in a calm tone.

Xie Qingtang slowly responded. This was, strictly speaking, her first time “working,” so she couldn’t let Chang Yishao lose face.

The gathering was held at a bar. There were no exaggerated shouts, nor were there the blinding, decadent lights she had imagined.

They arrived relatively late, and the private room was already filled with people. One familiar face was circulating through the crowd, being very social and amiable. However, upon seeing Chang Yishao, she disengaged from her state, approached Chang Yishao, and raised an eyebrow, “Coming so early this time?”

“Early?” Xie Qingtang secretly pondered the word. Could it be that Chang Yishao used to be a latecomer? When Lu Li’s sharp, slightly prickly gaze fell on her, she stared back without backing down, her eyes containing a hint of coldness and derision.

It wasn’t hard for Xie Qingtang to understand what Lu Li might be thinking. She and Chang Yishao were good friends who had known each other for years. With someone who looked exactly like Chang Yishao’s “moonlight” suddenly becoming the “current female lead,” the situation was certainly intriguing. Lu Li might even think that Xie Qingtang’s daily “seductive display” at the milk tea shop was all just to bait Chang Yishao, the “big fish.” Since Lu Li was judging her with malice, Xie Qingtang was not going to be intimidated and naturally stared back coldly.

Xie Qingtang’s guess was correct; Lu Li did not like her at all, just as she had disliked He Yanjin back then.

Neither of the two spoke, but tension filled the air. Chang Yishao also sensed this and subtly moved to block Xie Qingtang, only to be met with a glare from her friend.

“I heard Yanjin was coming back to China a while ago. Did he already return? Did you two get back together?” a sharp voice cut through.

Xie Qingtang raised an eyebrow and looked over. She saw a thin woman sitting on the right side of the sofa. Her face was covered in a thick layer of powder, which gave her a startling paleness under the light. She didn’t respond but playfully glanced at Chang Yishao, eager to see how she would handle the situation.

Chang Yishao frowned. Before she could speak, Lu Li turned to the sharp-tongued woman and opened her mouth with a smile, “Siyu, you’ve mistaken her for someone else.”

Yan Siyu stared intently at Chang Yishao for a long time before letting out a “Hmph.” She wanted to say more, but a refined man sitting next to her reached out and pressed her hand, saying warmly, “If Yanjin came back, he would definitely tell us.” His tone was gentle and intimate, but Yan Siyu’s expression suddenly changed. She pushed the man’s hand away, still glaring at Chang Yishao. All of this was observed by Xie Qingtang. She raised an eyebrow and deliberately leaned closer to Chang Yishao. Sure enough, the woman’s face darkened further, hiding a hint of jealousy and hatred. She curled her lips into a smile and whispered into Chang Yishao’s ear, in a voice only the two of them could hear, “Teacher Chang, your classmate has a crush on you.” Her tone was a bit flirtatious, like a feather lightly tickling the itch in Chang Yishao’s heart. Chang Yishao put an arm around Xie Qingtang’s waist. Sensing the body under her hand suddenly stiffen, she kept her expression unchanged, looked at Yan Siyu and the man, and said, “Congratulations to the two of you for finally making it official.” The refined man smiled gently, while Yan Siyu’s face became deathly pale.

A true character assassination! Chang Yishao was truly ruthless.

Lu Li knew Chang Yishao’s past better than anyone, and her attitude towards Yan Siyu was also noteworthy. Hearing Chang Yishao speak, she also smiled, poured a glass of wine, walked up to Yan Siyu, and looked at her, saying, “It wasn’t easy for you and Huo Xingzhi, entangled for years since high school. You’ve finally reached a happy ending. I toast you and wish you both a harmonious and long-lasting future.”

Yan Siyu: “…” Her nails were digging into her palm. What harmony could she and Huo Xingzhi have? She looked up at Chang Yishao, but noticed that Chang Yishao’s attention wasn’t on her, but completely on the woman next to her who looked like He Yanjin. A trace of malice rippled in her eyes. Even Huo Xingzhi couldn’t stop the words from leaving her mouth. She lightly clinked glasses with Lu Li but then eagerly shifted her gaze to Xie Qingtang, smiling, “I misjudged. It’s just that you two look too alike.” After a pause, she continued, “Yishao, have you heard about Yanjin coming back? It’s really a shame about you two back then.” She said it with a very regretful tone. The expressions of others in the private room shifted slightly, all sizing up Yan Siyu—after so many years, why was she still the same, unable to hold her tongue at all?

“What’s there to regret?” Chang Yishao chuckled, her tone gentle. “Fortunately, I didn’t make a mistake then, so I could find the perfect happiness I have now.”

Yan Siyu’s eyes narrowed. She didn’t believe Chang Yishao’s words. Their past relationship was well-known to everyone, and she had tried to interfere but to no avail. Finding a current partner who looked exactly like He Yanjin—how could Chang Yishao have forgotten the past? Her eyes flickered. She stopped focusing on Chang Yishao and turned to Xie Qingtang, asking, “What does Miss Xie do? How did you meet Yishao? Tell us, our goddess was stolen by you.”

The designated Xie Qingtang was unhurried. She studied Yan Siyu and flashed a malicious smile. She said, “I’m a streamer.” Before Yan Siyu could ask further, she blinked, “I usually just stream singing.” She did not miss the change in Yan Siyu’s expression.

Too similar. With that being said, she looked even more like He Yanjin. Yan Siyu’s breathing hitched, and her face turned completely red. Huo Xingzhi, sitting beside her, noticed her agitation and patted her hand as a warning.

Yan Siyu, however, ignored Huo Xingzhi. She stared intently at Xie Qingtang like a hungry wolf, her breathing rapid. She said, “What a coincidence, Yanjin is also a singer.”

“Yes,” Xie Qingtang took the lead, with an expression that said, “You don’t need to tell me that.” She continued, “But what does that have to do with me?”

Yan Siyu hadn’t expected Xie Qingtang’s answer and was momentarily stunned. What did it have to do with her? Was she supposed to explicitly say she was trying to sow discord? That’s right, she might just be a substitute Chang Yishao found; she needed to keep up her “role.” Yan Siyu let her mind wander, then gave Xie Qingtang a cold smile.

Xie Qingtang, in turn, gave her a sideways glance, the disdain in her eyes undisguised.

Lu Li also didn’t want a perfectly good reunion to be ruined by this matter.

She shot a look at Chang Yishao, as if to say, “Look what you’ve done,” but seeing Chang Yishao’s expression remain unchanged, she had nowhere to vent her frustration. Fortunately, Huo Xingzhi spoke up at this moment, shifting the topic to old high school stories, which managed to break the deadlock.

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